Does Asbestos Cause Prostate Cancer

How Does Asbestos Cause Cancer

Asbestos Cancer Claims

The exact process by which asbestos causes cancer is unknown. Scientists believe the asbestos fibers cause the cellular mutations through physical rather than chemical processes.

When inhaled, asbestos fibers irritate and scar the lungs. The body responds by surrounding the foreign fibers in protective cells. However, the asbestos fibers can cause mutations in these protective cells, causing them to grow out of control.

Though the link between asbestos and cancer is still being researched, the World Health Organization , Environmental Protection Agency , and many other major organizations classify asbestos as a human carcinogen.

Sokolove Law Team

Contributing Authors

The Sokolove Law Content Team is made up of writers, editors, and journalists. We work with case managers and attorneys to keep site information up to date and accurate. Our site has a wealth of resources available for victims of wrongdoing and their families.

National Toxicology Program: 14th Report on Carcinogens. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, ntp.niehs.nih.gov/whatwestudy/assessments/cancer/roc/index.html?utm_source=direct& utm_medium=prod& utm_campaign=ntpgolinks& utm_term=roc.

American Cancer Society. Asbestos and Cancer Risk. Retrieved from: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-causes/asbestos.html. Accessed on April 16, 2021.

Where Is Asbestos Found

Even though its less likely to be used in factories now, asbestos is sometimes still found in the following, among others:

Building insulation

Another place asbestos is found is in disaster areas where buildings have been damaged. One example is the World Trade Center debris after the Sept. 11, 2001, attack.

At any given time, asbestos may be in the air or water at very low levels that dont typically cause health problems.

Prostate Cancer Treatment Options

There are options for patients diagnosed with prostate cancer. Because of the extensive history of the cancer, studies and research have produced multiple treatment options to control cancerous growth, treat symptoms or simply improve a patients quality of life.

The five most common treatments for prostate cancer include:

Watchful waiting: This is the close monitoring of symptoms to see if any changes occur. This is more common in an early-stage diagnosis.
Surgery: This option is best reserved for patients who are in good health.
Radiation therapy: This treatment option uses radiation to kill cancer cells and slow their growth.
Hormone therapy: This can remove specific hormones or block their action in order to control the cancer.
Chemotherapy: This involves the use of drugs to kill cancerous cells or stop them from dividing.

When considering the best treatment option, you and your doctor should consider your age and your expected life span, the stage of your cancer, side effects of treatment and any other serious health concerns or conditions that you may have.

It is also possible that you will want to examine the option of more cutting-edge treatments, available through clinical trials.

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Cancers Linked To Asbestos Exposure

There are two ways people can be exposed to asbestos: inhaling or swallowing it.

Asbestos fibers may be in the air during construction, renovation, or demolition of a building that used asbestos-containing products and materials. You can also be exposed to asbestos if you consume food or liquids that have been exposed for example drinking water that was transported via asbestos cement pipes.

When the fibers are inhaled, they can stick to mucus in the throat though they may be cleared by coughing or swallowing. Increased exposure may result in some fibers reaching the lungs which can irritate lung cells and eventually cause cancer or mesothelioma. Here are four cancers that are linked to asbestos exposure.

Who Is At Risk For An Asbestos

Everyone is exposed to asbestos at some time during their life. Low levels of asbestos are present in the air, water, and soil. However, most people do not become ill from their exposure. People who become ill from asbestos are usually those who are exposed to it on a regular basis, most often in a job where they work directly with the material or through substantial environmental contact.

Since the early 1940s, millions of American workers have been exposed to asbestos. Health hazards from asbestos fibers have been recognized in workers exposed in the shipbuilding trades, asbestos mining and milling, manufacturing of asbestos textiles and other asbestos products, insulation work in the construction and building trades, and a variety of other trades. Demolition workers, drywall removers, asbestos removal workers, firefighters, and automobile workers also may be exposed to asbestos fibers. Studies evaluating the cancer risk experienced by automobile mechanics exposed to asbestos through brake repair are limited, but the overall evidence suggests there is no safe level of asbestos exposure . As a result of government regulations and improved work practices, todays workers are likely to face smaller risks than did those exposed in the past.

Cases of mesothelioma have also been seen in individuals without occupational asbestos exposure who live close to asbestos mines .

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Inclusion Criteria For Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos exposure was the shared inclusion criterion of the 33 studies.2,3,35 65 Eligibility for asbestos exposure varied: asbestos in drinking water,35 residential airborne exposure,2,37,44,49 and work exposure.a Studies without estimation of durationb or quantityc of asbestos exposure were also included.

Types Of Cancers Caused By Asbestos

Since asbestos is incredibly durable, it is not possible for the body to break its fibers down. This means the fibers will not leave a persons body once they enter. Even one single fiber can cause the rare cancer mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases, such as asbestosis or lung disease.

Call Sokolove Law right now at if youve been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease.

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Malignant Asbestos Related Diseases

Research has shown that exposure to asbestos is the cause of certain respiratory cancers such as mesothelioma and lung cancer. However, the link between asbestos exposure and other types of cancers is not so clear cut, according to the National Cancer Institute.

Mesothelioma: A rare and deadly cancer with a latency period that can run from 20-50 years. It affects the lining of the chest, lungs, heart, and abdomen.
Lung Cancer: A malignant tumor that affects the lungs and causes severe breathing difficulties. Smokers who have been exposed to asbestos have a greatly increased risk of developing lung cancer.
Laryngeal Cancer: Asbestos fibers may become lodged in the larynx when being inhaled through the throat. Some studies of asbestos-exposed workers hint at a possible link between asbestos and laryngeal cancer.
Other Asbestos Cancers: Some epidemiological studies suggest a possible link between asbestos exposure and gastrointestinal and colorectal cancers, as well as an elevated risk for cancers of the throat, kidney, esophagus, and gallbladder.

Black Veterans And Prostate Cancer

IN THE SIX: Mesothelioma fundraiser battling asbestos cancer

This needs to be talked about, so Im leading with it.

One in six Black men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. Black veterans usually have worse outcomes with prostate cancer. As the VA itself acknowledges, Black men in the general population are more than twice as likely as white men to die from prostate cancer.

The theory in the largely white medical academic community has been that prostate cancer is just biologically more aggressive in African American men.

But another study provided a more telling predictor. When it comes to prostate cancer, Black men have similar survival rates to white counterpartsif they have equal access to healthcare.

If you are a Black veteran with prostate cancer, or an advocate of a Black veteran with prostate cancer, this case review will be particularly important. While it is the responsibility of doctors to treat prostate cancer, we as advocates should pay particularly close attention to the severity of symptoms for our Black veteran clients.

You are more likely, in my anecdotal experience, to find more serious complications and residuals of prostate cancer for Black veterans. And the best thing we can do for our Black veteran clients with prostate cancer is to ensure that the VA is not low-balling them on account of inequitable access to medical care in Black communities.

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Asbestos Related Lung Conditions

Exposure to asbestos has been linked to a variety of diseases including mesothelioma, asbestosis, and various cancers. Some of these asbestos related conditions are malignant (mea

ning cells divide uncontrollably and invade nearby tissues) while others are considered benign, or nonmalignant.

However, it is important to remember that just because a disease is called benign does not meant that it isnt a serious or even life-threatening condition.

What Does All This Mean For Veterans With Prostate Cancer Claims

This case was a little complicated because of all the side issues of protecting effective dates, using VA forms, etc. So lets boil out the important facts for veterans trying to maximize their VA prostate cancer rating.

#1: Tell the VA every complication of your prostate cancer.

In your original claim for prostate cancer, tell the VA all of the complications of your prostate cancer even before it goes into remission.

You can tell the VA this in three ways: lay evidence, medical evidence, and expert opinions. The best course of action is to use all three tools.

If you use lay evidence, be sure to focus on the frequency, chronicity and severity of your prostate cancer complications and residuals and their impact on your earning capacity. It has been my experience over the last 13 years that lay evidence when done right is the silver bullet in your VA claim or appeal.

You can bolster your lay evidence with medical evidence showing the complications and residuals of your prostate cancer. This isnt technically necessary, but it is incredibly helpful if you can back up what you tell the VA with evidence in your medical records.

And, if you decide to use an expert opinion, present your lay evidence, medical evidence and a copy of your VA claims file being especially sure to include adverse medical opinions to the expert to ensure that his or her opinion is thorough.

#2: Dont let the VA cut you out of an earlier effective date for your prostate cancer ratings.

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Leaders In Prostate And Genitourinary Cancer Treatment

The Urologic Tumor Center is the only comprehensive diagnostic and treatment group for a prostate and genitourinary cancers, in the Richmond area. It is staffed by leading specialists who also conduct research that leads to improved treatments. You can see these specialists in one place at one time, eliminating visits to several doctors offices and long delays in decisions about your care. By working together and pooling their expertise, blood cancer treatment team doctors can make the best decisions and give you the most comprehensive advice and information.

What Other Organizations Offer Information Related To Asbestos Exposure

The organizations listed below can provide more information about asbestos exposure.

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry is the principal Federal agency responsible for evaluating the human health effects of exposure to hazardous substances. This agency works in close collaboration with local, state, and other Federal agencies, with tribal governments, and with communities and local health care providers to help prevent or reduce harmful human health effects from exposure to hazardous substances. The ATSDR provides information about asbestos and where to find occupational and environmental health clinics. The ATSDR can be contacted at:

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry18002324636 18882326348

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Recent Studies On The Health Hazards Of Asbestos

A more recent analysis of global studies considered asbestos-related research publications from a variety of countries, including:

The United States

While the literature review tried to determine the risk of prostate cancer via asbestos inhalation and oral ingestion, there was insufficient evidence to suggest that oral ingestion could cause or contribute to prostate cancer. However, this does not mean that the oral ingestion of asbestos is not a potential risk factor. On the contrary, there are several types of gastrointestinal cancers tied to asbestos exposure, including stomach and colon cancer.

Although the researchers admitted their study has limitations, they concluded that asbestos exposure does seem to increase mens risk for prostate cancer.

How Is Asbestos Used Today

Today many industrialized countries have completely banned the use of asbestos. While the United States has not completely banned the substance, asbestos use has been limited to certain products. Some of the asbestos-containing materials still in use today include:

Drum brake linings and disk brake pads
Components in automatic transmissions
Corrugated and other cement sheets

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Talcum Powder Asbestos And Ovarian Cancer

In the past, many women used talcum powder on a daily basis, often in the genital area. Talcum powder comes from talc, a mineral composed of magnesium, silicon and oxygen. However, talc deposits often naturally contain asbestos.

In fact, Johnson & Johnsons baby powder recently tested positive for asbestos fibers. Johnson & Johnson discontinued its North American talc-based products in 2020. Still, many women may have been exposed to asbestos through contaminated talc products.

At least 35,000 women have filed lawsuits blaming talcum powder for their ovarian cancer diagnoses. Some studies have found a weak association between talc and ovarian cancer. Additionally, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies asbestos-containing talc as carcinogenic to humans.

In 2018, a jury in St. Louis awarded nearly $4.7 billion to women suing Johnson & Johnson. The plaintiffs claimed the companys talc-based products caused them to develop ovarian cancer.

Johnson & Johnson appealed the verdict, and the award was reduced to $2.1 billion in 2020. However, the Supreme Court rejected the companys subsequent appeal.

05. Other Cancers

How Does Smoking Affect Risk

What Causes Prostate Cancer? – The Nebraska Medical Center

Many studies have shown that the combination of smoking and asbestos exposure is particularly hazardous. Smokers who are also exposed to asbestos have a risk of developing lung cancer that is greater than the individual risks from asbestos and smoking added together . There is evidence that quitting smoking will reduce the risk of lung cancer among asbestos-exposed workers . Smoking combined with asbestos exposure does not appear to increase the risk of mesothelioma . However, people who were exposed to asbestos on the job at any time during their life or who suspect they may have been exposed should not smoke.

Common Questions About Asbestos

I was diagnosed with asbestos-related cancer: What do I need to know?

Your doctor may order additional tests to determine whether to treat your mesothelioma with chemotherapy, surgery, radiation or a combination of therapies.
You may be eligible for a clinical trial and a new type of treatment.
Learn all the facts, so you can make more informed decisions.
Build a strong support network and seek out other cancer patients who can understand your situation.

How do I find a doctor who treats asbestos-related cancer?

You can speak with a Patient Advocate to receive help finding a mesothelioma doctor. These specialists give you the best chance at extended survival.

Is compensation available for asbestos-related cancer?

Compensation is available to people diagnosed with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. This money can help patients cover treatment costs, travel costs and other expenses.

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Registered and Licensed Dietitian
Member of the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, National Association of Science Writers, American Society of Clinical Oncology and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Expertise in oncology nutrition, food safety and asbestos cancers

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Military Veterans Asbestos Exposure

Military veterans have an out-sized risk of asbestos exposure.

Boston has a proud military history that has spanned from the days before the American Revolutionary War to the decades following WWII. This means that there are still are lot of veterans in our area, in addition to the brave men and women who served our nation before moving to the Greater Boston area.

When tourists come to our city, they often take a Duck Tour or one of the many other walking or bus tours around town and see what is left of this great military legacy. One of the more popular sites is the Boston Navy Yard, located in the citys Charlestown neighborhood. Today, you can see and step aboard the U.S.S. Constitution, which was built in the late 1700s. This is the oldest still commissioned naval ship in the fleet. However, while the ship is currently crewed by active Navy personnel, it is really a floating museum and will not be seeing combat again.

However, for many years, the Boston Navy Yard, formerly known as the Charlestown Navy Yard, was a major hub for ship building and ship maintenance in our area. This shipyard repaired U.S. Navy ships, captured German ships from World War II, and ships form the Korean War, as well as the Vietnam War.

As our Boston mesothelioma lawyers can explain, these types of asbestos cases are called take-home asbestos cases and are unfortunately quite common.

How are Asbestos Exposure Claims Unique for Veterans?

Oddly shaped fingernails or toenails

Taunton Office

Asbestos Exposure In Aircraft And Vehicle Mechanics

Aircraft and vehicle mechanics are also at a serious risk of developing asbestos-related injury due to frequent asbestos exposure. Asbestos was used in brake pads, clutches, gaskets, paint and sealants, wire, tape, wraps, adhesives, and other materials regularly used.

The hazard was particularly high when replacing brake pads and gaskets, and cutting insulating tape or wraps.